EASTER long weekend crowds converged on Nundle in what organisers say was a big two days at the Go For Gold Chinese Festival.
The event saw thousands of people from the Tamworth district and beyond visit the village for a piece of the cultural action.
The event saw, festival favourites, the Australian Yau Kung Mun Association, make their return with their Chinese lion performances while stilt walkers were a new addition to the event and wowed the crowds with their perfect balance.
New this year, was an evening show with LED lighting, and Regional Arts Fund wall projections on Saturday night which attracted big crowds.
There were about 100 market stalls that lined the village’s main streets and offered guests a variety of goodies including tasty Chinese dishes, show style delights along with arts, craft and clothing.
The Festival has been hailed as the biggest event on the Nundle calendar each year with this year’s event labelled a roaring success with perfect weather to boot,
Committee Chairman Heath Atchison said there were big crowds reported throughout Saturday.
However, there was a slow start to day two on Sunday with locals choosing to celebrate Easter with their families before heading out and about.
Mr Atchison said crowds began to build up again about lunch time.
“We had a bumper day on Saturday, it was tough to gauge but the car park was full by 12pm,” he told The Leader.
“The cars were parked all the way up the road to the bowling club.
“A rough estimate would be about 9000 on the first day.”
“We had a good night on Saturday night with the dance group, there was a good turn out to that as well.”
Mr Atchison said stallholders were impressed with the crowds this year with some of them selling out of stock on the first day with hoards of festival goers leaving satisfied.
“Most of them were pretty happy,” he said.
“When people were leaving, I was talking to them and they were really pleased with it.
“They were even putting money in the donation bin on the way out.”
Money raised from this year’s event will go towards covering the running costs for the next Go for Gold Chinese Easter Festival.
